The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-23
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY.
THE BIRTH OF OUR STATE.
Prot kost, the State Geologist, Goe. into
Particuiars-The Eiowery Land
and its Inhabitants OF Auld
Lang syne.



When the lower beds or enoene rocks
! were in course Of deposit the territory OF
our State was reposing at the bottom N
the sea. at "A depth Of from one hundred
Ia several hundred feet, and was, for a
| time, sinking slowly that IN. at a pace
correspondent 90 the continuous build
ing of coral reefs. This depth is indica-
ted by the character of the fossils imbed-
ded in the rocks and by the Theological
character Of the rocks themselves.
This assumes, what is commonly ad-
mitted by geologists, that the limestone
deposits are made in the deeper seas, and
sandstone in more shallow seas.
1 his older tertiary deposit, though new
geologically. is yet, when judged of Ina
secular history, very old. because Il dates
back TO the time anterior TO the upheaval
Of the lower half of the Rocxy Noun
tains.
In course of geological time the oscil-
lation changed, and the bottom OF the
sea began Ia rise. ! need not advert
here 10 the geological principles occa-
sioning these changes of level on physl-
cal notifications which are universally
admitted and adverted to for accounting
for the facts of nature. But AN uplift
was in progress, which was, at first
moderately slow. During this period
there occurred the deposit, now denomi-
nAittl tilt OliEtAfilts anu INC lDrrllt III
this formation differ somewhat from
those below, in that, that they possess
various newer types.
In still later geological time the bottom
of the sea was near the surface and ~
many places dry land appeared. At this
epoch the miocene or middle tertiary was
laid down. This,was of most remark
able character and brings forward In our
State geological characteristic that IN
4. "A
similar Ia the lacustrine tertiaTies in Ne
braska and other parts Of the eastern
slope of the Rockies.
At this time the land lay for pro
tracted period, at or near the level OF the
sea There were both salt and fresh wa
ter BAYS estuaries and inland lakes.
Among these were swells of land, stretch
ing along in somewhat extended distan-
ces and varied width, that were over
grown with vegetation. comprising reeds,
grasses, shrubbery. trees and vines.
These were various in density or pre-
fusion and were in some localities In
dense thickets
Over these stretches and among these
thickets there were populations OF IA vast
variety of animals. comprising insects,
winged and crawling; reptiles, birds and
quadrupeds; AZ also, from some proofs,
species of bimania, Huge monsters ~
the sea coasted along the borders OF the
waters. These were the zeuglodon,
whale of immense size, much larger
than whales get to be now. Also the
carcharodon, "A species OF shark as large as
the largest Of whales now living.
These have left remains of teeth as large
~ a mans hand.
But these are only the chief or princes
of the deniz"ns Of these coasts. Fishes
and reptiles teemed by the million I'm all
the waters everywhere, gliding and
crawling about lnngies of seaweeds, clus-
ters Of gorgonias and cliffs OF corals,
while the bottoms, sandy or muddy
were all overstrewn with moluska. crus-
tacea, stellata and echinoidea of all col
ors and shapes.
On the borders 81 these waters of bays
and rivers there grnzed "A unique mon
ster, semi-reptile fish. allied to the pres
ent manatee, bat vastly larger, and
which existed in immense herds. In a
great hay that extended up northward,
between the Ocklockonee and Sopchoppy
rivers, these monsters, also another
coaster. the charcharodon, existed In
amazing numbers, 80 that now there are
depths Of phosphate deposits there eX-
ceedingly rich In phosphoric acids, all
afforded by marine and amphibian ami
mails. In these deposits their fossil bones
lie imbedded in great numbers. But the
broken into fragments, there seldom be-
ing pieces of more than two or three
pounds weight.
In Alachua county, especially in the
south part thereof there was rich sa-
wanna, herdcd by the rhinoccros, mas
todon, Aanlel, horse, OK, llama and goat
Among these were harboring in the
tingles of chapparal, cactus, palms and
divers vines, fierce species Of the lion,
and variety of leopard, tiger and by-
ena, that were ever watching for their
prey among the smaller Of the landed
animals. A very large bear also was
common. DR. Neal, Of Archer, was one
of the first to cite attention To these fos-
sils. lie has sent to the National Museum
at Washington "A considerable variety Of
them.
In Taylor County a large order Of els-
phant was. existing. One skeleton, In
the possession Of DIR. Wilcox, at Perry. 1.
i'm state of some completeness. But
this American elephant existed also else
where in Florida. though not NO abund-
antly as the mastodon. The manatse.
zeuglodon and a vast variety ~ sharks
have left their remains by the hundreds
of tons. and in some localities consider
able sections of rocks consist Of these re-
mains almost exclusively. But there
were also an infinite number Of other
kinds Of animals during the time of this
formation whose remains wonld not find
burial in the water and 80 would perish
and fail Ia appear nj present,
,